Multiple explosions were reported early on January 3 in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital. Residents reported hearing at least seven blasts and seeing low-flying aircraft over parts of the city. Smoke was observed near strategic sites, including La Carlota airfield, and some neighbourhoods experienced temporary power outages.

The Venezuelan government issued a statement condemning what it described as “military aggression” by the United States, claiming that both civilian and military sites were hit in Caracas and in the surrounding states of Miranda, Aragua, and La Guaira. President Nicolás Maduro declared a state of emergency and announced a national mobilization, rejecting the strikes as illegal and unjustified.

International media outlets reported that U.S. President Donald Trump had ordered strikes on Venezuelan targets, although official confirmation and operational details from the U.S. government remain limited. U.S. authorities have not publicly released a detailed account of the targets, legal basis, or casualties.

Background: Rising U.S.–Venezuela tensions

Tensions between Washington and Caracas have been escalating since September 2025, following the launch of Operation Southern Spear, a U.S. military campaign aimed at interdicting alleged drug-smuggling operations in the Caribbean region.

The United States has framed these actions as part of its counter-narcotics strategy, while the Venezuelan government has accused Washington of using drug enforcement as a pretext for political pressure and military escalation.

The situation further deteriorated in December 2025, when the U.S. expanded its actions beyond maritime interdiction, including strikes on shore-based facilities and a partial naval blockade affecting Venezuelan oil shipments.

During Security Council meetings in December 2025, the United States defended its sanctions and military pressure on Venezuela as a response to alleged drug trafficking, while other members — including Russia and China — urged restraint and de-escalation amid broader concerns over regional stability (Reuters).

Timeline of escalation

September 2025 — Operation Southern Spear begins

• 1 September: The U.S. military strikes a vessel in the Caribbean it claims was engaged in drug trafficking. All 11 people on board are killed.
• Over the following months, dozens of similar strikes are reported in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific. By late December, at least 35 strikes and over 100 deaths have been reported.

November 2025 — Venezuelan political response

• Venezuela’s National Assembly announces an investigation into the maritime strikes, accusing the U.S. of unlawful killings and violations of sovereignty.
• President Maduro repeatedly condemns the operations and denies Venezuelan state involvement in drug trafficking.

Late December 2025 — International concern and escalation

• UN human-rights experts warn that the U.S. operations and maritime restrictions may violate international law.
• President Trump publicly states that a shore facility inside Venezuela used for loading drug-smuggling boats has been struck, marking an expansion beyond maritime operations.

January 3, 2026 — Explosions in Caracas

• Around 2:00 a.m. local time, explosions are reported in Caracas and nearby states, with reports of aircraft overhead and power outages.

International and UN response

In late December and early January, UN human-rights experts and international legal scholars raised concerns about the U.S. operations. A group of United Nations human-rights experts condemned the partial U.S. maritime blockade of Venezuela as violating fundamental principles of international law and a prohibited use of force under the UN Charter, warning that such actions could endanger the right to life and other rights in Venezuela and the region (OHCHR).

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and independent UN experts warned that:

• The use of lethal force against suspected drug-smuggling vessels without judicial process may violate international human-rights law, particularly the right to life.
• Military actions and blockades could constitute prohibited use of force under the UN Charter unless justified by self-defence or authorized by the UN Security Council.
• The blurring of law-enforcement and armed-conflict frameworks risks undermining established legal protections for civilians.

Several human-rights organizations echoed these concerns, calling for transparency, legal justification, and independent investigations into civilian harm.

In late December and early January, UN human-rights experts and international legal scholars raised concerns about the U.S. operations. A group of United Nations human-rights experts condemned the partial U.S. maritime blockade of Venezuela as violating fundamental principles of international law and a prohibited use of force under the UN Charter, warning that such actions could endanger the right to life and other rights in Venezuela and the region. Human Rights Watch has described the U.S. maritime strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels as “unlawful extrajudicial executions” that violate the fundamental rights to life and due process under international human-rights law, noting that lethal force should be used only when strictly unavoidable and within a law-enforcement framework (Human Rights Watch).

Why this matters

The escalation marks a significant shift in U.S.–Venezuela relations — from sanctions and diplomatic pressure to direct military action — raising concerns about regional stability in the Caribbean and northern South America, the protection of civilians, and the erosion of legal boundaries between law enforcement and armed conflict.

It also raises questions about the precedent of using military force in counter-narcotics operations abroad, particularly when such actions are carried out without transparent legal mandates, independent oversight, or publicly articulated accountability mechanisms.

The crisis is also being watched closely beyond the region because of Venezuela’s broader international ties. Venezuela is Russia’s closest political partner in South America and one of its most significant trade partners in the region, particularly in the energy sector. This adds a wider geopolitical dimension to the situation and helps explain why international institutions and governments are paying close attention to the escalation.

As of now, there is no independent verification of casualty figures, target details, or the legal basis for the strikes, and the situation remains fluid.

Prepared by: Jabir Deralla